For this episode, we were joined by the reigning Empress of Internet Anthropology, Katherine Dee! Pro-ana, or pro-anorexia, is a largely-online subculture based on the experience of anorexia nervosa. At times promoting this illness, at times offering a refuge for those struggling with eating disorders, the broader eating disorder subcultures offer …

In this conversation, Dr. Kate Dee speaks with Dr. Corey Goldberg, a plastic surgeon, about the complications arising from MedSpa procedures, particularly focusing on Botox and fillers. They discuss various cases from the emergency room, highlighting the risks associated with these cosmetic treatments, including infections and the dangers of perman…

Jordan Castro, author of The Novelist, stops by the Buntzcast. We chat about the new online magazine he's editing (The Cluny Journal), along with his writing, the Cleveland punk scene, Christianity, his new "dark academia" novel, Nicholson Baker, and more.By Jordan Castro, Sam Buntz

Loose Ends embraces the great outdoors this week at the Kendal Mountain Festival. Stuart talks to festival patron and bestselling writer Robert Macfarlane about his "mountain DNA" and unusual walking snack. Broadcaster and writer Louise Minchin loves a mountain too. Having put aside the extreme working practice of rising at 3am for Breakfast TV she…

In this conversation, Dr. Kate Dee speaks with Dr. Rohan Bissoondath about the concept of longevity and how to enhance health span. They discuss the importance of understanding aging, the role of biomarkers, comprehensive health assessments, and the challenges of motivating lifestyle changes. Dr. Bissoondath emphasizes the significance of nutrition…

Cairo Smith is an author and filmmaker. We got to talk about his latest short story collection Quarterlives, the literary new wave, didacticism in fiction, and much more. Quarterlives: https://www.amazon.com/Quarterlives-Cairo-Smith-ebook/dp/B0DJPZDH91?ref_=ast_author_dp Futurist Letters: https://www.futuristletters.com/ X: @cairoasmith Cairo's Web…

Leah Prime from our fantastic Art Bell episode and of the blog We Own the Night and I talked about my initial reaction to friend.com’s chatbot launch… and why I might be wrong about it after all. This is an experimental format I’m releasing to paid subscribers only right now. Please share your feedback! It’s very likely that a more polished version…

Clive Anderson is joined by actor Shazad Latif, who stars as Nemo in 'Nautilus', a new ten part TV series based on Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Latif's TV credits include Spooks, The Pursuit of Love and Toast of London, where he played the fan favourite Clem Fandango. And he's also joined by Michael Cumming, who directed Latif in thr…

In this episode, Dr. Kate Dee interviews Dr. Naomi Bush, a specialist in menopause medicine, about the complexities of menopause and hormone therapy. They discuss the historical context and impact of the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study on hormone therapy practices, as well as newer revelations that have reshaped care for menopausal women. The …

Postliberal Book Reviews writes, surprisingly, book reviews from a Catholic, post-Vatican II, postliberal perspective. Being less flippant, he writes very thoughtful reviews of both fictional and non-fictional works, and everyone here should check out his Substack page. Travis' Recommendations The Neighbour - Caleb Caudell Nutcrankr - Dan Baltic In…

The comedian and actor John Bishop is about to head off on a tour celebrating 25 years in stand up - a quarter century since he took to the stage on a whim and ended up one of the UK's favourite stars. The explorer Lucy Shepherd is more likely to be found fighting off venomous spiders than hecklers. For her latest TV series she's embarked on a neve…

In this insightful episode of MedSpa Mayhem, Dr. Kate Dee collaborates with Lindsay Holder, an experienced esthetician and CEO of Lapree Beauty, to delve into the multidimensional world of skincare and aesthetics. The conversation covers the importance of finding reputable estheticians, individualized consultations, the impact of diet and lifestyle…

Moon people, published in 2008, is, in many ways, the sci-fi equivalent of The Eye of Argon. Bizarre plotting, even more bizarre characters, and, most importantly, it's oddly charming. Buy Moon People https://www.amazon.com/Moon-People-Dale-M-Courtney/dp/1436372135 VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION Jack has published a novel called Tower! Amazon: https://…

Monty Python star and king of the travel documentary Michael Palin has just published the fourth volume of his best-selling diaries. In 'There and Back' he covers the years 1999-2009. He joins Clive to talk about how the 21st Century has treated him. The actor and Call The Midwife star Jessica Raine is soon to return to our screens in the second se…

In this conversation, Dr. Kate Dee speaks with Haley Sullivan, a registered nurse who shares her harrowing experience with vascular occlusion following cosmetic filler injections. Haley recounts her initial excitement about getting lip fillers, the complications that arose, and the challenges she faced in seeking appropriate medical help. The discu…

Katherine talks to Sam L. Barker about the enduring legacy of pop-punk and emo, and crucially, about how it all coalesced online. You can also listen to this on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.Read Katherine’s article about blink-182’s unique brand of humor here.Subscribe to Sam’s Substack here. A note from Sam: Be My Escape is an essay and po…

David Herod's Improvidence is an 'overnight novel', a brisk novella combining adventure, a dash of weird fiction, and some truly beautiful descriptions of a post-collapse West Virginian and Ohioan landscape. We talked about Improvidence, didactic fiction, fictional relationships and more. Improvidence: https://www.amazon.com/Improvidence-David-Hero…

Loose Ends is at the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival and Stuart Maconie is joined by Harriet Walter, who has played many roles at the RSC in Stratford and has just published 'She Speaks!', a book imagining what Shakespeare's women might have said if they'd been given half a chance. John Douglas Thompson is one of America's finest classical ac…

In this episode of MedSpa Mayhem, the conversation explores the phenomenon of teeth grinding and clenching, also known as bruxism, and its growing prevalence since the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Dee is joined by endodontics specialist Rachelle Cohen, DMD, who discusses the significant dental issues arising from bruxism, such as cracked teeth and infect…

David McGowan's Programmed to Kill (2004) is a seminal work of conspiratorial thinking, well-regarded among members of the online commentariat on parapolitics, as well among conspiracy theory aficionados generally. Paedophile rings, satanic cults, the Phoenix Program, mind control, psychiatric induction of alternate personalities for the purposes o…

Stuart is joined in the Loose Ends Salford Studio by comedian, musican, actor and Strictly winner Bill Bailey. His new book is 'My Animals, and Other Animals: A memoir of sorts'. It's the story of his life through the creatures who have meant something to him, and a celebration of how animals bring us joy. The Yorkshire Shepherdess, Amanda Owen, ta…

A link to Thomas' journalistic output with VICE: https://www.vice.com/en/contributor/thomas-morton/By Thomas Morton, Sam Buntz

In this episode, host Dr. Kate Dee discusses the complex world of medical aesthetics with Alex Tiersch, founder and CEO of the American Medical Spa Association (AMSPA). They delve into the importance of safety and compliance in the med spa industry, the challenges of unregulated and unsafe practices, and the need for better enforcement and educatio…

Caleb Caudell is an American author who has recently released 'Hardly Working'. Described as 'semi-auto fiction', Hardly Working uses Caudell's experiences working in the service industry, dating, writing, and living in terrible apartments to explore our deracinated moment. Caleb is an outrageously erudite man, and I had a lot of fun hearing him ta…

The poet Pam Ayres, author of Oh, I wish I'd looked after Me Teeth - which was voted one of the UK's top ten comic verses - joins Clive to discuss almost half a century of writing and a new volume of her collected works - Doggedly Onwards. Dawn O'Porter was once the journalist behind documentaries on topics from extreme dieting to poligamy and even…

Playwright and novelist, Matt Gasda, drops by the Buntzcast. We chat about the current state of the theatre, Harold Bloom, the Dimes Square scene, the impact of AI on the arts, his forthcoming novel (Sleepers), and much more besides. His collection of plays, Dimes Square and Other Plays, is available on Amazon.…

Paid subscribers are receiving this a little bit earlier than free subscribers. Katherine reads her Tablet article, “Adam Lanza Fan Art,” a deep dive into the elusive True Crime Community (TCC), a small fandom of mostly adolescents and young adults who treat school shooters and serial killers in the same way other fans might treat boyband members. …

In this conversation, Dr. Kate Dee and Dr. Christopher Rex discuss various aspects of acne management, emphasizing the importance of a solid skincare regimen before considering medical treatments. They explore conservative management techniques, the role of diet, advanced treatments, and the challenges of treating recalcitrant acne cases. The discu…

Vladimir Nabokov finished writing Lolita in 1953. It took him, an established author, until 1955 to have it published. Why? It's a book about a middle-aged man who has a sexual relationship with a twelve-year-old girl. Publishers were uncomfortable, etc. The thing is, it's also a phenomenally well-written book. VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION Jack has p…

Stuart Maconie presents Loose Ends from the North Cornwall Book Festival in St Endellion. He is joined by Patrick Gale, Tom Allan, Anna Keirle and Tim Smit, and there's music from the multi-instrumentalist Angeline Morrison. Patrick Gale is the author of the Emmy award-winning BBC drama Man in an Orange Shirt and novels including A Place Called Win…

In this episode, Dr. Kate Dee and Dr. Randy Lindstrom discuss weight loss medications, particularly focusing on the benefits and differences between Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and Tirzepatide (Manjaro/ZepBound). They explain the scientific mechanisms, potential side effects, and legal issues surrounding these treatments. Both doctors share their …

Among other things, Abbie Lucas is a filmmaker, and Kevin Kautzman is a playwright and podcaster (shout out to The Art of Darkness podcast). They've co-written a play, Basilisk, about spooky internet AI horror story Roko's Basilisk. We talked to them about their play, about AI, about crypto, about film versus theatre, and more. Basilisk radio play …

Nihal Arthanayake presents Loose Ends from the third annual Morecambe Poetry Festival. He's joined by Henry Normal. Henry is a writer, poet, TV and film producer who has been involved with many of our most loved comedies, such as The Mrs Merton Show, The Royal Family, Gavin and Stacey and Alan Partridge. He's a prolific poet, and his latest collect…

In this episode of MedSpa Mayhem, Dr. Kate Dee shares a personal story from her medical school days, highlighting the challenges and consequences of confronting discriminatory behavior in a hospital setting. She discusses the difficulties of maintaining integrity in a meritocracy-devoid environment and how her experience shaped her approach to the …

The Accursed Share (vol. 1 published in 1941) lays out Bataille's concept of general economy. What do Aztec human sacrifice, potlach, Islamic conquest, Calvinism and the rise of capitalism, the Marshall Plan and avoiding World War III all have in common? Bataille has the answers. VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION Jack has published a novel! Amazon: https:…

The tenor Russell Watson's remarkable career took him from playing from working mens clubs in Salford to performing at the Vatican. But his life hasn't been completely charmed - he discusses the brain tumour that threatened his life as well as his voice and how he found his way back to centre stage. Jackie Kay is one of the UK's most lauded poets w…

Whit Stillman, auteur and chronicler of the urban haute bourgeoisie (UHB), stops by the Buntzcast. We talk about the perils of writing while hyper-caffeinated, the work of J.D. Salinger, the unexpected joys of using voiceover, the dance culture of a former time and its potential to inspire a retro-utopia, and the mysteries of faith.…

In this episode of The Computer Room, Katherine and friends talk about Art Bell's legacy. We meet Leah Prime, who's writing a book about Art Bell, John Steiger who on a mission to hand transcribe every single episode of Coast to Coast AM, and Joseph Matheny, the mind behind Ong's Hat. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with oth…

In this episode of Medspa Mayhem, Dr. Kate Dee, along with physician assistants Paige Savage and Hannah West, delve into the critical issue of vascular occlusions in the field of medical aesthetics. They explain what vascular occlusions are, the protocols for treating them, and the importance of being prepared with the right materials, such as hyal…

I (Jack) talk to Dan Baltic about his book, Nutcrankr. To quote the blurb of Nutcrankr, "NUTCRANKR is a comic examination of fringe ideology, social atomisation, and sexual dysfunction in modern America. Dan Baltic's debut novel is a sardonic look at a certain type of Extremely Online character we're all too familiar with and what happens when thei…

From Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in Stirling. Richard Armitage’s CV is already packed with roles, including a string of stellar acting credits in the likes of The Hobbit, North and South, Robin Hood, and Spooks. Now he’s added author to the list with his debut novel Geneva. Ambrose Parry is not one writer but two – it's the penname of in…

Dr. Kate Dee is joined by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Christopher Rex to discuss comprehensive hair loss therapy. Dr. Rex shares his diverse background, experience in low-income clinics, and the journey to founding Peak Dermatology in Arizona. They delve into various aspects of hair loss treatments, the importance of timely intervention, and …

Ernst Jünger, a man who fought in two World Wars, was an entomologist, award-winning author, philosopher, traveller, psychonaut and much more, wrote The Forest Passage (1951), a book which explores how one can retain freedom in a time of mass ideology and titanic technological change. It's a really, really good book. VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION Jack…

Sir Ian Rankin’s much-loved detective Rebus has had a big year, with a fresh BBC TV adaptation in the summer, and now a return to the stage. Clive Anderson hears about new play Rebus: A Game Called Malice which was written by Sir Ian and Simon Reade, it's touring the UK. Michelle McManus chats to poet and women’s rights advocate Len Pennie who rose…

In this episode, Dr. Kate Dee talks with Dr. Aaron Fletcher, a highly accomplished ENT and facial plastic surgeon based in Atlanta, Georgia. They delve into Dr. Fletcher's extensive educational background and training, the rising trend of men seeking aesthetic procedures, and the specific types of treatments that are popular among male patients. Th…

Elaine C. Smith has delighted audiences for decades, including work on TV shows like BBC Scotland’s Two Doors Down. In her latest project she joins the touring cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and takes on a character that used to terrify her - The Childcatcher. Claire Love Wilson is a Scottish-Canadian theatre-maker, actor, and singer-songwriter wh…

In this episode, host Dr. Kate Dee discusses two significant legal cases in Oklahoma's med spa industry with journalist Jazz Wolfe. The first case involves Kay Sanders, a nurse who illegally imported Botox from Canada and practiced without proper medical supervision. The second case concerns Dr. Darter, whose lack of oversight at Pure Derma Med Spa…

Justin Murphy joins us to talk about 'Simulacra and Simulation' (1981), a book by French philosopher and cultural critic Jean Baudrillard. What happens when a society schematises too much, copies copies of copies and loses touch with 'reality'? Hyperreality. VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION Other Life (probably the best place to see what Justin Murphy is…

Actress and singer Su Pollard’s new tour Still Fully Charged celebrates her 50 years in showbiz – she catches up with Michelle McManus about what keeps her hooked, and being beaten by a dog in a talent competition. Clive Anderson chats to comedian and actor Chris Grace. He’s returned to Edinburgh after his sold-out 2023 run, this time with a packed…

Is Ozempic for you? Dr. Kate Dee and Dr. Judy Rubin discuss the use of Ozempic and other weight loss drugs. They cover the importance of a medical examination before starting these medications, the potential side effects, and the need for proper monitoring. They also discuss the different drugs available and their mechanisms of action. The conversa…